Carluccio’s, European restaurant-market concept, coming to Old Town Alexandria

Carluccio’s, a United Kingdom-based Italian restaurant, café and gourmet grocery concept, will soon take up residence at the foot of King Street in Old Town Alexandria.

It will be the first U.S. location for Carluccio’s, which has more than 80 restaurants in the United Kingdom and the Middle East. The concept is named for Antonio Carluccio, the Italian chef and founder who opened the first Carluccio’s Caffé in London in 1999.

The exact offerings at the Alexandria location have yet to be announced, but many of Carluccio’s restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features a range of antipasti, entrées and desserts that include many ingredients imported from Italy. In the gourmet grocery department, offerings include sweets, pasta and sauces, oils and vinegars, fresh baked breads and other items.

We’ve reached out to Carluccio’s — which now has a U.S. website highlighting the Alexandria location — and will update this post when we hear back.

The entrance of Carluccio’s is across the street from Waterfront Market, which opened in November at 7 King St., creating a bit of a market/restaurant hub at the end of King Street. It also could create some competition for Bittersweet Café owner Jody Manor, who also has a market and spot for prepared foods in the area. Waterfront Market may have one advantage, however: a waterfront. The restaurant plans to open outdoor seating on the public dock facing the Potomac River this spring.

The building at 100 King Street, which is owned by Douglas Development, has had several restaurant tenants in recent years, including at Mexican restaurant, a tapas spot called 100 King, and Red Curry, a Thai restaurant from the owners of the nearby Mai Thai restaurant.